Mechanisms of reading and spelling in a case of alexia without agraphia

In the clinical syndrome of alexia without agraphia, reading is greatly disturbed while writing and spelling remain relatively intact. The most commonly accepted explanation of this pattern of findings is that the center for written language interpretation remains intact, but has become inaccessible to visual input. This paper examines the nature of the intact written language center with respect to specific mechanisms of reading and spelling in a patient presenting with the major components of alexia without agraphia. It is concluded that the dissociation between reading and writing performance found in this patient reflects the existence of separate and distinct mechanisms for reading and spelling.